Mark Ingram is suspended for the first four games of the season, and some view this as extra reason to draft Alvin Kamara; he might be extra-busy in those games. But the Saints would prefer not to overwork him, so they'll probably give plenty of work to another back. There are lots of candidates.
This article presents the various candidates. They include sixth-rounder Boston Scott and holdovers Jonathan Williams, Trey Edmunds and Daniel Lasco. And one of the veterans the team tried out and then signed, Terrance West.
Personal story with West: back in 2014, picking late in the first round of a rookie draft in dynasty, I had my eye on Falcons rookie Devonta Freeman. Alas, he was taken two picks before me, so I settled on West.
West didn't last long in Cleveland; just one season before they moved on. Since then he's been with the Titans (briefly) and Ravens, and actually had a credible 2016: over 1,000 total yards. He didn't set the world on fire, but reaching that total made him one of just 15 third-round picks this century to reach 1,000 total yards in any of their first three seasons.
| THIRD-ROUND RBS, 1000 YARDS, YEARS 1-3 (2000-PRESENT) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Pk | Player | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 |
| 2017 | 86 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 1782 | ? | ? |
| 2008 | 89 | Steve Slaton, Hou. | 1659 | 854 | 104 |
| 2017 | 67 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 1554 | ? | ? |
| 2008 | 64 | Kevin Smith, Det. | 1262 | 1162 | 256 |
| 2011 | 71 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 1080 | 914 | 1471 |
| 2015 | 86 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 1038 | 2118 | 90 |
| 2005 | 65 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 739 | 2180 | 1538 |
| 2008 | 73 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 629 | 1417 | 1935 |
| 2011 | 73 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 454 | 1314 | 835 |
| 2003 | 93 | Chris Brown, Tenn. | 282 | 1214 | 1178 |
| 2014 | 69 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 375 | 1090 | 339 |
| 2002 | 91 | Brian Westbrook, Phil. | 279 | 945 | 1515 |
| 2001 | 80 | Kevan Barlow, S.F. | 759 | 811 | 1331 |
| 2009 | 65 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 540 | 886 | 1265 |
| 2015 | 77 | Duke Johnson, Clev. | 913 | 872 | 1041 |
| 2014 | 94 | Terrance West, Clev. | 737 | 252 | 1010 |
One of the other veteran backs the Saints tried out when they signed West also makes the list (Jamaal Charles). But it's West, and at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, he makes some sense as the Kamara complement the first four weeks of the season. Scott is a lot smaller (5-7, 203), and none of the other three have done anything noteworthy thus far in the league.
If West wins the job and impresses in the first four games, who knows? Ingram is in a contract year, unlikely to still be a Saint a year from now. Maybe West proves to have some staying power.
--Andy Richardson